Adjustable pin gauge



July 11, 1944. w, E DQNATH 2,353,297

ADJUSTABLE PIN GAUGE- Filed Aug. 4, 1942 .thin metal, or

Patented July 1l, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE PIN GAUGE William E. Donath, Philadelphia, Pa. Application August 4, 1942, Serial No. 453,495

6. Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful adjustable pin gauge for determining or measuring the diameters of holes, or the height, thickness and other dimensions of a piece of material, a'nd is especially useful in testing measurements, or distances between walls.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide such a gauge comprised of a two-piece or two-section pin carried by a handle, the pin sections being longitudinally adjustable for regulating the distance between the restricted end contacts of the male and female sections, and said handle functioning as a support for the pin as well as a lock nut to retain the pin sections in any of their preselected adjustments.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pin gauge with a slightly flexible handle. This can be accomplished by providing a thin neck or by constructing said handle wholly or partly from from some fibrous or plastic material, or from wood.

A further object of this invention is to construct the handle with a chamber to hold pin sections which are not in use and to employ a closure for said chamber.

With the above and other objects in View this invention consists of the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same I will describe its construction in detail referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the gauge with the pin sections shown in a closed or fully retracted position.

Fig. 2 is a similar View with portions broken away and shown in section to illustrate certain details of construction and with the pin sections in a protracted position.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the tool.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the yoke end of the handle.

Fig. 5 is a lside elevation thereof.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the male section of the pin.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of the female section of the pin.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of another form of handle.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied 8 represents the tool handle constructed wholly or partly from metal, Wood, fibre, plastic or other materials and is so fashioned as to have a limited flexing action. By providing a flexible handle more accurate measurements are assured since there is no possibility of forcing the pin into position without the operator noticing that the handle is assuming a flexed position. By constructing the handle from wood, fibre, plastic or a similar light weight and low heat conductive material, either wholly or partly, the gauge will be better balanced and the pin will not be affected by the body temperature of the user which might expand the pin sections and result in inaccurate measurements.

One end of the handle has a yoke 9 provided with a threaded hole I through which may be Screwed the threaded shank i l of the male section I2 of the gauge pin i3. Said male section of the pin also includes a head I4 having its outer end cone shaped to provide a restricted contact point i5. On the threaded end of the shank of the male pin section which projects through the yoke is scewed the female pin section i6. This female section has a threaded bore open at one end and the other end is closed and of cone shape to provide a restricted contact point I l. The female section of the pin can be jambed against the face of the yoke to retain all parts in their adjustments after the manner of a lock nut.

If one female pin section is not long enough for certain classes of work another longer one, as ISa or I 6b, can be substituted for the shorter one and the extra ones or those not in use can be stored in the chamber I8 formed as a bore with the open end normally closed by a screw closure I9.

To nd the distance between two surfaces as, for example, the diameter of a hole, the gauge pin is held at an angle to the axis of the hole and inserted therein. One of the contact points I 5, I1 is then engaged with a surface and the handle oscillated to swing the other end of the pin in and out with the surface engaged contact point as a fulcrum. If said other Contact point just rubs the opposite surface, which is evidenced through the Sense of feeling, the distance between the two contact points represents the diameter of the hole and by measuring said distance the true measurement of saiddiameter may be ascertained in tha units of any instrument of measurement used.

In making the experimental measurements, if both contact points do not simultaneously engage opposite surfaces or they engage with the handle in an oblique position or said handle Iiexes under slight pressure, the gauge is removed and the female pin section is backed off to relieve the locking pressure at which time the male pin section is screwed in or out of the yoke as the case requires and the female pin section then screwed home again to retain the adjustment. This may be continued any number of times until the proper adjustment is obtained.

When the gauge is to be used as a testing tool, as when measuring a number of holes that are tc be of the same diameter, the gauge pin is set to the desired or a predetermined adjustment. Then after each hole is drilled, a trial measurement is taken and if lthe hole is too small it may be reamed and these operations are continued until a hole of proper size is obtained. In these last mentioned operations, as the gauge pin begins to bind, the preferred iieXible handle will bend thus indicating to the operator that the hole is too small.

In order to obtain the desired flexibility, the handle 8 may have a reduced neck 2U, Fig. 8, thus providing a relatively thin area between the main body portion of said handle and the yoke 9. In said Fig. 8 I have also illustrated one way in which the handle may be constructed of a plurality of separate sections and these may be of the same or different materials.

The handle not only functions as a means for manipulating the gauge pin in making measurements but also acts as a temporary locking means for the sections of the pin. Since the handle can be held in one hand While the pin section are being adjusted, no wrenches or other tools of a similar character are required. Further, When the parts are locked, the gauge may be laid down and lifted as often as necessary Without the likelihood of the gauge pin getting out of adjustment.

Of course, I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is:

1. An adjustable gauge pin comprising a handle having a transverse threaded hole through one end, a male pin section including a threaded shank mounted in said hole and a contact point opposite said shank, and a female pin section screwed onto said shank and provided with a contact point at its outer end.

2. An adjustable gauge pin comprising a handle provided with a yoke at one end, said yoke having a threaded hole therethrough, a male pin section including a threaded shank mounted in said hole and a head of the same diameter as the yoke and a Contact point at the outer end of said head, a female pin section also of the same diameter as the yoke and provided with a threaded bore extending only part Way therethrough, said female section having threaded connection With the shank of the male section and adapted to be jambed against the yoke to lock the parts in their adjustments, and a contact point at the outer end of said female section.

3. In a device of the kind described, a ilexible handle having a transverse threaded hole at one end, a male pin section including a threaded shank and a conical head providing a contact point, said shank adapted to be screwed into and project through the hole, and a. female pin section adjustably mounted on the protruding end of the slgnk and having a conical outer end portion providing a contact point, said female pin section adapted to engage a face of the handle to temporarily lock the parts together.

4. An adjustable pin gauge comprising a handle having a transverse threaded hole through one end and provided with a relatively thin area adjacent the hole, a male -pin section including a threaded shank mounted in said hole and a contact point opposite said shank, and a female pin section screwed onto said shank and provided with a contact point at its outer end.

5. In a pin gauge, a handle, a yoke at one end of said handle, and a thin neck contiguous the yoke, said neck being capable of flexion.

6. In a pin gauge, a handle consisting of a. plurality of sections, one of said sections having a thin neck capable of flexion, and a yoke projecting from the neck.

WILLIAM E. DONATH. 

